Better together

Wholesalers and suppliers are coming together under the banner of FWD to develop ideas to build long-term sustainable business for the sector.

Five new working groups have been created to deliver the strategic objectives of the FWD supplier council, which aims to bring suppliers and wholesalers together to discuss issues of mutual concern.

Under the guidance of FWD chairman Martin Williams, the supplier council, first set up two years ago, has been streamlined into a new group consisting of five wholesalers and five suppliers, representing a broad spread of the industry.

This group has now met twice, and has agreed four strategic objectives for the FWD’s supplier work.

The first of these is wholesalers and suppliers better understanding each others’ needs and those of their customers. Secondly, is understanding and influencing wholesale customers in all channels, in order to support their businesses.

The third objective is promoting the sector to suppliers at all levels, with work already underway in this area via the FWD’s popular Introduction to Wholesale sessions, and the immersion day for senior executives held at Bestway. The final objective is to increase the use of technology and data in the sector.

In order to deliver these objectives, five expert working groups to take these forward have been set up. Each group is co-chaired by a wholesaler and supplier, with members drawn from suppliers, wholesalers and other relevant experts. Work programmes for the groups will be agreed by the end of the year.

FWD chairman Martin Williams said: “There is a need for the sector to build on its strengths and develop the new capabilities needed in a competitive market, and these work groups have an important strategic role in helping to achieve these goals.”